“The commuters of New York and New Jersey are getting shafted,” Port Authority critic Richard Hughes said. “The Port Authority is not doing its core mission, which is repairing the bridges and tunnels and improving the airports.”

However, the Port Authority insists every penny of the toll hike is going to transportation projects.

To insiders, the current troubles at the bi-state agency almost seemed inevitable given the political turmoil of the last decade, which saw five different governors in New Jersey and four in New York — each with his own priorities and filling Port Authority positions with his own people.

“And in the midst of that, went through seven different executive directors in that 10-year period. The last 10 years what this agency has gone through has been completely destabilizing,” Port Authority Vice Chairman Scott Rechler said.